Choosing the Right Lumbar Back Support
Lumbar back support products serve to prevent neck and back pain, which can lead to pain in other parts of the body. Products include pillows and cushions that offer additional support when you stay seated for long periods of time.
The lumbar region of the spine is usually referred to as the lower back. It is the area just above your tailbone and below the thoracic (middle back) region. The lumbar area includes your spine and all the muscles, ligaments and tendons surrounding your spine. If you pull or tear a ligament, you will experience a lumbar sprain or strain. In some cases, this leads to muscle spasms and significant pain in your lower back.
What causes lumbar sprains and strains? Poor posture, poor lifting technique, obesity, and other health-related factors can contribute. In fact, sitting for long periods without lumbar support can itself aggravate lumbar pain. Finally, one of the greatest contributors to back pain is using the wrong type of chair for your body. Surfaces that are too hard or too soft do not encourage proper posture and do not provide adequate support for your back.
Typically, relieving lower back pain solely requires sufficient rest. Most of us, however, are unable to rest long enough to overcome our lumbar problems. So preventing these problems with a good lumbar support is essential, especially if you spend significant amounts of time sitting down.
The first step to choosing the right lumbar support is to ensure that it fits perfectly in the chair you spend the most time in. As an even better option, find an ergonomically designed chair that has built-in lumbar support or an individual lumbar support specifically designed to use with your chair. “One size fits all” lumbar support products rarely provide any benefits, so avoid these options.
Make sure you test the product in the store before you buy it. If you can, sit with the lumbar support for at least 15 minutes to see if it feels good or aggravates back pain. The best lumbar supports are adjustable, so you can fit it to the chair’s height. Ergonomic chairs with lumbar supports included usually allow you to adjust the height and width of the support. Adjustable separate supports are particularly useful if you use more than one chair throughout the day.
Good health is a combination of many factors including your nutrition, preventative care, appropriate corrective care and the small choices you make every day in the course of living. If you have questions about this article, your general or spinal health, please ask. We are here to help!
Leave a reply
Leave a reply